Pixelmator is on the move with the launch of a brand fresh upgrade — version 3.1 Marble — on the heels of another major update , Pixelmator 3.0 FX . The app that ’s widely seen as a consumer - level alternative toPhotoshop CCnow offers a ticket of under - the - hood improvements straight targeting Apple ’s   diminutive novel Mac Pro . Specifically , interlingual rendition 3.1 takes advantage of the Mac Pro ’s hardware to hasten operation and supports full input , output , and transition of 16 - bit figure when used on a Mac Pro .

The 16 - bit spiritual rebirth and output feature appear only on the Mac Pro .

In addition to the engineering science improvement and 16 - flake - per - channel color , Pixelmator 3.1 debut a new print - on - demand overhaul for postcards , notecards , gallery frames , and post-horse . The latter reflects a raise package emphasis on tangible products — which both Apple and Adobe also support with their own image editing tools such as iPhoto andPhotoshop Elements .

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Pixelmator has teamed up withMILK Print on Demandto ply users with printed products based on their Pixelmator instauration .

From Pixelmator ’s perspective , it ’s not the intent to specifically direct Photoshop , but to only to craft an easy - to - use production for the great unwashed who care epitome redaction , but who are not doing professional work .

Pixelmator 3.1

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“ We are centralise on making an app that we enjoy using , ” tell Ausra Meskauskaite , a coach on the Pixelmator Team . “ We are trying to make image editing as dim-witted as potential and are not place any specific audience . If pros find out it utile , that ’s great , but non professionals and consumer who find Pixelmator utilitarian is also is great . ” She admits that withthis version , the team did focus a little more on pro users . “ Because it has 16 - bit support now and the more powerful Mac that has dual GPUs , that improves the operation significantly . “

A big part of Pixelmator ’s optimization for the Mac Pro is under the hood . For example , the upgrade help both GPUs to be used at the same time when utilize event : one for reckon the effect and the other for composition interpreting .

“ On all other Macs there is only one GPU so it ’s either computing or rendering . With the Mac Pro we can divide those tasks and do everything at the same time . So public presentation and reactivity is faster , ”   Meskauskaite enounce .

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you may now order a motley of print product based on Pixelmator edits .

The Modern version mechanically saves epitome in the background signal while figure compositions are being render . The app is optimize for all 4 - core , 6 - gist , 8 - core , or 12 - core Intel Xeon processors for better rapid growth handling and quicker bitmap bed duplications .

The Mac Pro ’s Grand Central Dispatch I / O engineering and PCIe - based flash storage also make opening and exporting high resolution paradigm quicker while   increase memory bandwidth is used for Pixelmator operations .

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Layer Styles were introduced with version 3.0 .

Apple has recognize Pixelmator as a major app for the platform , and has used its benchmarks in compute the velocity of the Mac Pro .

While Pixelmator does not have the same huge set of capability as Photoshop , it is work toward boosting the app ’s profile with enough high - terminal features to give photographers a meaningful choice . The toll is $ 30 , liken with Adobe ’s monthly subscription fee of $ 10 for the Photography Bundle or $ 20 for Photoshop alone . Pixelmator 3.1 is useable only on the Mac App Store and is a complimentary upgrade for all versions purchased on the MAS . A 30 - day free trial is also available from the company ’s site .

Use your iPhone or iPad for photography ? Get pro summit for taking better images at our picture taking sitting atMacworld / iWorldin San Francisco March 27 - 29 .